The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-20

Cost TO State and Land Fund los As
Total................. ....--S232 40
We confidently assert that in no SINH
lar institution in the Union is the cost
less; and we know of none where it is
not greater. OF course, in this estimate
is not included any interest on what is
called the plant, viz: the cost of College
and other buildings, the land, and the
stock on the farm. As these are per
manent, needing only repairs on the
buildings, and the value of the land
and stock constantly increasing, they
should, as is always done in similar
cases, be regarded as the necessary outfit
of college.
1t will be noted that the sum only of
$3,17S.01 was paid for students labor.
This sum ought to be largely increased,
but it was all that was available for the
purpose. If each student works three
hours a day, as he ought, he would earn
$50 during the collegiate year. We do
not allow students living in the neigh
borhood, and who board at home, TO
participate in the labor fund, hut only
those residing in the dormitory. This
building has one hundred rooms, and
putting two in each room-which is all
that is entirely consistent with health
we would have two hundred students
entitled to the labor fund, and it would
cost 81, 200 to employ all of them al
labor three hours a day. We deem il
essential that this work should be rigor
ously exacted except in cases of sickness
and we respectfully urge that the Legis
| lature hereafter make specific appro
priation of say, $1,000 for each year
| for students labor, to be used for nc
other purpose.
This labor is not very valuable to the
College, but we regard it as of supreme
| importance that the Board of Trustee:
be enabled to exact it. The labor itself
is educational. As the object of the
College is to make intelligent and pro
gressive farmers, we deem it essentia
that each student should be Injured t.
| farm labor. 1t is of Importance, too
that manual labor be annexed to menta
training. 1t dignifies and ennoble'
work, and sends out the graduate of the
| College into the world, educated in the
idea that labor, toll on the farm, il
sunshine and rail-, heat and cold, is as
honorable as it is useful.
i
cate farmers not professional men-it i,
of the utmost importance that those who
receive its teachings should, in the
main, engage in agriculture. 1t has
been shown that large numbers are
turned away every year for want OF
accommodation.
| If all the attendants were required tc
labor three hours daily, doubtless there
are not few of those now attending
who, being disinclined to farm life
would not come to this College, and
| their places would be supplied from the
| ranks of those turned away and who
desire to DE farmers. In this way we
would be able to turn out graduates, q
great majority of whom would be far
mers. Now, upon inquiry we learn that
of those who have attended the College
about fifty-six per cent. are engaged in
| farming. In addition to this, it would
increase the number of attendants from
those families who are unable to educate
their children. 1t is a fact, and q
melancholy one, that there are many
families in the State who are unable to
spare the small sum necessary to pay
| the cost of sending their sons to this
College. These families, too, are in
most instances farmers. By their con
dition, not by their fault, they are con.
demned to a never-ending toll with
little prospect of lettering their condi.
| ton. Being toilers in the fields, the
creators of our wealth in peace, the
defenders of the country in war, they
are debarred by poverty from acquiring
that knowledge essential to their sd
vaneement in life. Every means in the
power of the State to remedy this great
evil should be employed. 1t greatly
aids in that direction, that an ample
fund should be given for the employ
ment of these persons.
We feel so deeply on this subject
| that we venture to go out of the legiti
mate scope of this report to suggest
respectfully but earnestly, that provis
ion be made by law for the payment, BY
| either the county or State Treasures, OF
sum (say 500 or $125 per annum fol
each person aided) sufficient to keep a,
the college at least one young man from
each county. He should be selected
under public authority, from the labor
| ing sons of farmers who are unable to
| furnish the means of education to theil
4
solely on the ground of superior natural
yigor of mind, without reference to
scholastic attachments beyond the mere
power to read and write. Care should
| be taken to prevent a selection on
account of favoritism of any kind. The
object should be to find out those young
men, actually engaged in manual labor
who would be most likely to make good
and useful citizens if they had the op-
portunities which fortune has denied
them. 1t might be well to consider
whether this aid should be extended
beyond the Sophomore year. A young
man who has gone through that veal
will certainly have very large stock OF
| information needed to make him an
intelligent and progressive farmer. By
stopping at the end of that year another
would take his place; so that double
| the number would be aided to that
extent, as compared with the number
who could be aided if the aid were
extended through the whole four years
We make no positive recommendation
on this point, but merely suggest it as a
matter worthy of consideration and ex-
animation. On this point we might
add, that the history of the College
shows, that, in all probability, most OF
the young men who would thus be aided,
through the Sophomore year, would, if
they were really energetic and DESTROYS
to advance, be able by their own exer-
tions, to go entirely through by incur
ring only very small debts in the way of
loans from their friends. There are
opportunities for extra work at the
College which would be furnished to the
meritorious poor.
Besides, it is not uncommon that
young men attending the College, after
getting all they can from work here,
resort to manual labor during vacation
| SO a. to exc out their limited means.
Others who are advanced through. the
Sophomore year, resort to school teach
ling during the vacation. As the best
aid that can be given is to aid one to
hall, hinaaolf and "a auhsidioa ox,o.ok. L.